Buddhist art reaches Seoul

Indo-Asian News Service, January 23, 2006

New Delhi, India -- A team of the National Museum of India left on Sunday for Seoul to exhibit art, artefacts and teachings related to Lord Buddha.

The special exhibition, 'Buddhist Art of India', will be on display from Jan 17 to Feb 28 at the Korea Foundation Cultural Centre in Seoul. It has been organised under the aegis of India-South Korea cultural exchange programme.

"We are taking the artefacts of all the three sections of the religion - Maha Yana, Hina Yana and Vajra Yana. All the artefacts are the collection of the National Museum from different parts of the country," said Sanjiv Kumar Singh, the planner and coordinator of the exhibition.

The exhibition will showcase over 50 art objects including sculptures, manuscripts, jewellery and pieces of decorative art.

"There are a lot of followers of Buddhism in Seoul and the exhibition will be an exciting event to showcase India's rich Buddhist heritage," Singh told IANS ahead of departure.

He said they had gone to South Korea a decade back but the exhibition would be a great experience for both countries and help strengthen their cultural bonds.